started watching das boot

[Kapt Z]

Originally Posted by Schöneboom

No shower, no bath, except for the few boats with improvised bathing equipment (using hot water from the engines), and the boats sent to the tropics that could let crewmen bathe in the ocean. With the daily water ration, face & hand washing was possible. In the vast majority of U-boats, everyone just stank to high heaven.

Yes, I've seen photos of a jury rigged 'shower' in a boat's engine room. I agree that cannot have been very common. I think they had some sort of saltwater soap for ocean bathing, but as I remember there were very different opinions about it's value.

I know the US boats had showers, but I have no idea how often the crew were allowed to use them.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Kapt Z

I know the US boats had showers, but I have no idea how often the crew were allowed to use them.

Once a week, more often for cooks and medics.

[Rhodes]

Do not forget that they had the famous salt water soap! "Teddy" Suren always said that was a marvellous invention! Even if other u-boat crew member didn't...

[Murr44]

Originally Posted by Kapt Z

Yes, I've seen photos of a jury rigged 'shower' in a boat's engine room. I agree that cannot have been very common. I think they had some sort of saltwater soap for ocean bathing, but as I remember there were very different opinions about it's value.

I know the US boats had showers, but I have no idea how often the crew were allowed to use them.

The Germans had a special soap that was designed to be used with seawater but apparently it didn't lather very well and left behind a sticky residue. To mask the smell of BO (body odour) many men used this cologne that I think was called Kolibri.

I've seen a photo of a jury rigged outside toilet that was mounted on the aft deck railing. Looked pretty disgusting too - I think a lot of the guys had really bad aim...